Pipe-wrench



(No Model.)

J. WE LFLE.

PIPBWRENGH. No. 551,879. Patented Ben. 24, 1 895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH WELFLE, OF HAMBER, OHIO.

PlPE- WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,879, dated December24, 1895.

Application filed September 30, 1895. Serial No. 564,208. (No model.)

T aZZ whom zlt may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH WELFLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hamber, in the county of Henry and State of Ol1o, haveinvented a new and useful Pipe-Wrenoh, of whioh the following is aspeoifioation.

This inventioh relates to improvernents in pipe-wrenohes.

The object of the present invention is to improve the oonstruoton ofpipe-wrenohes and to provide a simple, in expensive, and effioient one,oapable of ready adjustment,and adapted to elamp seourely a ppe or othersurfaoe.

The invention eonsists in the construotion and novel oombination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully desoribed, illustrated in theaooompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspeetive view of a wrenoh oonstruotedin accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal seotionalview. Fig. 3 is a detail perspeotive view of the notched plate.

Like numerals of referenoe indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the draw 1ngs.

l designates a shank having its upper or outer end enlarged and providedwith a rigid j aw 2,which has outwardly-shouldered teeth, and pivoted tothe rigid jaw is a reotangular loop or frame 3, which receives a shortshank 40f a movable jaw 5. The movable jaw 5 is provided withinwardly-shouldered teeth, which oo-operate with those of the rigid jawand whieh are adapted to engage effeotually the surface of a rod or pipeor the Like as soon as pressure is applied to the shank orhandle 1.

The shank of the movable or adjustable jaw 5 is provided at its outeredge with teeth 6, whioh are engaged when the wreneh is in use bycorresponding teeth 7 of a removable plate 8, arranged within the outerend of the loop or frame 3. The shorter shank 4 is adapted to slidefreely in the loop or frame 3 to adjust the jaws when there is nopressure applied to the shank or handle 1, and as soon as the wrenoh isapplied the inner end 01 shoulder of the rigid jaw engages the inneredge of the shank 4 and forces the latter into engagement with the teethof the removable plate 8, thereby locking the parts in their adjustment.The swinging movement of the loop 3 on the pivot 9 oauses the jaws toengage the surfaoe of a rod or pipe to be held or rotated. WVhen theshank 4 is in position for adjustment, the jaws are slightly dvergent;lont as soon as there is any pressure exerted on the handle of shank 1the jaws move toward eaoh other and produce a olamping action on the rodor pipe.

The removable plate 8 is provided on its inner faee with the teeth 7 andit has at its ends laterally-projeoting lugs 10 looated at both edges ofit and engaging the adjacent edges of the loop or frame, whereby it isseourely held in operative position. The shorter shank is provided atits inner end with a flange 11, which prevents the parts from bengentirely separated loy limiting the outward movement of the adjustablejaw.

It will be seen that the wrenoh is simple and comparatively inexpensivein oonstruoton, and that it is strong and durable and positive andreliable in operation.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of oonstructionmay be resorted to without departing from the prinoiple or saorifioingany of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is In a wrench, the oombination of the shank or handle 1,provided at its outer end. with a rigid jaw having teeth, a loop orframe pivoted to the rigid jaw, a movable jaw having corresponding teethand provided with a shank 4, having teeth at its rear edge, and arrangedWithin the loop or frame, and the removable plate arranged within theouter end of the loop or frame and provided at its inner faoe with teethfor engaging those of the shank 4:, and having at its ends oppositelydisposed lugs engaging the edges of the

